"Anyone but you" - Jaiden AU

Lights from above

The elevator continued its slow ascent, the tension between its two occupants growing with each passing floor. Aiden shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of James' presence. He couldn't help but steal another glance at his unwanted companion.

James was annoyingly attractive, Aiden had to admit begrudgingly. His gorgeous brown eyes sparkled with mischief, complemented by a small silver nose ring that caught the light when he moved. It was infuriating how effortlessly cool he looked.

James, for his part, was openly staring at Aiden now, his gaze lingering on the other man's unique hairstyle. Aiden's hair, cut to his shoulders, was a striking combination of jet black on one side and stark white on the other. It framed a face with sharp cheekbones and eyes that were an unusual shade of green or blue - not quite emerald, but reminiscent of sea glass.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, James cleared his throat. "So," he drawled, his accent more pronounced than ever, "do you always dress like you raid a thrift store dumpster, or is this a special occasion?"

Aiden's eyes narrowed, his gaze hardening. "Excuse me?"

"I mean," James continued, gesturing vaguely at Aiden's outfit, "the ripped jeans, the oversized hoodie, that beanie... It's like you're trying to disappear into a ball of fabric."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Aiden shot back, sarcasm dripping from every word. "We can't all dress like we're constantly ready for an impromptu photoshoot. Some of us have actual work to do."

James scoffed, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair. "Please. Looking good and being productive aren't mutually exclusive. But I wouldn't expect you to understand that, Mr. I-Haven't-Seen-A-Mirror-In-Years."

The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival at their floor. Both men stepped out, their argument gaining heat with each word.

"At least I don't look like I'm trying to cosplay as a sentient Instagram filter," Aiden retorted, fishing for his keys. "Seriously, do you even own a piece of clothing that isn't 'distressed' or covered in unnecessary zippers?"

James' eyes flashed dangerously. "Better than looking like I'm auditioning for the role of 'exhausted college student number three' in a bad sitcom."

They had reached their respective apartment doors, which were frustratingly close to each other. Aiden fumbled with his keys, his hands shaking slightly with anger.

"Whatever," he muttered. "Some of us have more important things to worry about than whether our outfit will get us more likes."

"Yeah, like making sure you've reached your daily quota of being a grumpy asshole," James shot back, smoothly unlocking his own door.

They glared at each other one last time before disappearing into their separate apartments, doors slamming in near-perfect synchronization.

Inside his apartment, Aiden leaned against the closed door, his heart racing. He ran a hand through his two-toned hair, grimacing as he caught sight of his reflection in a nearby mirror. Maybe James had a point about the whole "exhausted college student" look. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud.

Meanwhile, James paced his meticulously decorated living room, unable to shake the image of Aiden's intense green eyes from his mind. He couldn't remember the last time someone had gotten under his skin like this. It was infuriating... and oddly exhilarating.

As they went about their evening routines, both men found their thoughts continually drifting to the other. Aiden couldn't stop thinking about James' stupidly perfect hair and the way his eyes lit up when he argued. James, in turn, caught himself wondering what Aiden's hair would feel like between his fingers, and if he ever smiled with the same intensity he frowned.

They both went to bed that night with a strange mix of annoyance and anticipation, secretly looking forward to their next encounter while simultaneously dreading it. Neither would admit it, but something had shifted between them. And if it was a good thing or not.